h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I’m thrilled to bits.

I have two music classes on Thursdays, my clarinet lesson at 2.30 pm, and a recorder one at 5.30 pm. The boys are at school for the former, and Cellofreak is at home to babysit for the latter, but as Bulb 2, OH and Cellofreak also have music lessons at different times in the early evening on this day, it means mealtimes are a bit of a nightmare. Not to mention homework supervision. So Thursdays for me are a two-edged sword really, a double dose of private pleasure offset by a logistical nightmare re family life.

Anyway. Both my lessons went very well today, as I’ve been practising diligently – and I’ve finally managed to get that recorder exam piece embedded in my brain! I’d just got really stuck into my recorder lesson when Cellofreak’s flute teacher entered the classroom. We know him quite well, as apart from teaching Cellofreak for years, he helped organise a cello tour in Poland we went on a couple of years ago. An excellent teacher and wonderful flautist, he’s also very involved in actually working with instruments, repairing them and so on – e.g he built the most beautiful little spinet from scratch. He brought a 20-year-old recorder of his for my teacher to look at; he’d restored it completely, and was looking for a buyer. It’s a tiny little sopranino in F, and as I still have most of my birthday money left (I’m refusing to buy any new clothes until I reach Target Weight)...

It’s a lovely little thing, and as the fingering is the same as for the treble recorder, I can play it – but even my small hands have a job to fit! If I squeeze my fingers tightly together, I can just about make it. An aquired taste though, as it’s so highly pitched; it’s not used on its own that much, more to add a little ‘something’ to (recorder) ensembles. I’ve got it with me now, on trial, though I’ll have to ‘break it in’ gently to begin with as it was comprehensively overhauled. I’ll have to treat it just as if it were a new one in fact. I know what to do, as I had to do the same for my new descant recorder a couple of years ago. You start by playing max. 5 minutes a day for the first week, then 10 mins for the next, then 15 mins after that, and so on until you can play an hour non-stop. New it would be worth about 300 € - it’s mine for a tenth of the price if I want it.

I’ve been gloating over it for most of the evening, and I do. I must say, it beats getting depressed by all the shenanigans in Mustardland - the least said about that the better, other than to hope that matters will be resolved pretty soon.

However, I’d best stop going into raptures now and try and get some sleep after posting this, we’ve got the most manic weekend ahead. Basketbal tournaments + boys’ school fête + family time = kiddies disco on Friday evening; basketball on Saturday morning (8.00 am – eek); school fête with show, games and BBQ on Saturday afternoon and evening; basketball on Sunday morning (8.00 am – double eek!); M-i-L for dinner on Sunday evening. Monday is a holiday for the boys, so little respite there. I think I’ll rent a load of videos and we’ll all slob out in front of the telly....

Katy

I really admire you managing to fit your music in Katy. I've been toying with the idea of getting my flute out and starting lessons again for years. I've come quite close a couple of times but have a feeling that practicing would be another thing for me to feel guilty about for not getting done.

The "new" recorder sounds wonderful - I can see why you've been gloating over it. Two of my aunts play the recorder fairly seriously (in various amateur groups etc) and seem to have a great range of different ones. It always annoys me when people dismiss the recorder as something small children play for a while before moving on to a "proper" instrument.

Hope you've survived your weekend!

hebe

Snap Hebe - admiration for Katy from me too!

I have been toying with the idea of selling my flute to raise funds rather than having lessons again. Now reading that, I feel guilty. I have so many excuses - cash, neighbours would not appreciate noise, I was no good in the first place, etc...

Also, I see a recorder as a thing to get Nephew to annoy b-i-l and s-i-l I like the lower-pitched ones rather than the descant, but that's probably due to memories of a classful of infants squeaking their way through Frere Jacques!

Enjoy your evening! Cat x

Hi Cat - I saw your thread about selling your flute and it did cross my mind about mine... But I know I would never buy another one, and I might sometime play it again properly (my once a year twiddle doesn't count!). I never got very far on the flute (got further on the piano) and I like the idea that one day I will learn more.

Then again I have a feeling I'm turning into my mother who still has a violin and clarinet that she hasn't played in many years...

hebe

Hi Katy. I've just discovered all these new pages away from the usual discussions board. I'm interested in your clarinet lessons, as I got a 2nd hand one a few months ago & am trying to teach myself in my semi-retirement. I'm gradually getting better, but still give out the odd squeak at inappropriate moments & can't change from A to B qhickly yet. My son, who plays guitar, keyboard, drums & trombone (we're in S Yorks - brass band country) says its just practice. Any tips/ murmers of encouragement would be welcome.